Ramadan was made as a global season and a time of grand celebration of worship, Allah, the Most High, remembrance, recitation of the Qur’an, self-restraint, and piety in which Muslim – educated and uneducated, rich and poor, humble and privileged – participate like close friends and associated all over the world.  Ramadan falls at the same time in every city, town, and village in the world.  Its arrival can be noticed equally in the places of the rich as well as huts of poor.  No one can dare do its rituals differently according to his personal understanding, nor is there any scope for a disagreement in determining the number of its days.  The grandeur and beauty of Ramadan is, in fact, easily noticeable throughout the length and breadth of the Muslim world.  It seems as if a canopy of effulgence and peace is raised all over the Muslim society.  Even those who are slack in Fasting choose to fast in Ramadan for the fear of being alienated in the Muslim community. If for some reason they decide not to fast, they eat in the day hiding from others in shame.  The sick and the traveler are, of course, lawfully exempted from Fasting but they too are not allowed to display of that they are not posting. Fasting is thus observed collectively throughout the world in the same month.  This creates a congenial and conducive atmosphere for the believers due to which Fasting becomes easy, hearts soften, and Muslims turn to deeds of worship and submission, sympathy and compassion with greater eagerness. 

Pre-Dawn Meal

At night, before the dawn, Muslims take some food in order to keep up their energy for Fasting in the day (so that hunger and thirst do not become intolerable).  This meal is called Suhoor in Islamic terminology.  This is a Sunnah and the Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, has encouraged Muslims to observe this practice.  Anas bn Malik (May Allah please with him) relates that the Prophet of Allah (PBH) said, “Take Suhoor because there is amplitude (Barakath) in it” (Bukhari, Muslim, Thurmudi & Nasa’ee).  In another tradition, Amr bn al A’s (R) relates that the Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, said: “The difference between our Fasting and that of the Ahle Kithab ((Jesus & Christians)) is marked by Suhoor (Pre Dawn Meal)”. 

Ifthar

The Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, has also forbidden Muslims from delaying breaking of fast and has mentioned it to be a sign of digression and a mark of the extremists among the Ahle-kithab (Jesus & Christians).  Suhail bn Sa’d (R) relates that the Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, said, “So long as Muslims keep on breaking fast without delay, they will remain (on the path of) virtue” (Bukhari, Muslim, Muvatha). 

Dates

The Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, used to break fast before the evening prayer (Salathul Magrib).  If juicy dates were available, he ate some of them; otherwise, he took dry dates.  If dates were not available, he drank some water. He used to say the following words at the time of breaking fast: “Allahumma Laka Sumthu, Wa Ala Rizqika Aftharthu” O Allah! I observed fast for you and I break fast with the provision granted by you. 

He also used to add these words: The thirst is satiated, the veins become wet and, Allah willing the reward is certain. 

Safeguarding the Spirit of Fasting

The Islamic Sharee’ath does not address itself only to the physical etiquette of Fasting; it also pays full attention to its real aim and sprit.  It has made unlawful not only eating, drinking, and sexual relationship during the period of Fasting, but has also forbidden the believers from all such things which defeat the noble aims of Fasting and destroy its spiritual and moral benefits. It has circumscribed Fasting with discipline, piety, cleanliness and sincerity of heart and tongue.  The Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, once said: “If any one of you is fasting, he should not indulge in abusive and useless talk, nor should be turn noisy creating disturbance, if some once calls him names and picks up a quarrel with him, he should tell him that he is Fasting.  The Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, also said: “He who does not give up telling lies and practicing upon them (should know that) Allah has no need that he should renounce eating and drinking”. 

Piety

The act of fasting, if devoid of sincerity and piety, is like a form without reality, a body without soul.  The prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, once emphasized this point in these words: “There are many fasting people who do not earn from their fast anything except thirst, as there are devotees who do not get from their nocturnal prayers (Tharaweeh) anything except vigil at night”  (Bukhari).  A Muslim has to safeguard the form as well as the spirit of Fasting.  The Prophet blessings and peace be upon him, emphasized the same point in these words: “Fasting is a shield until it is torn asunder”. 

Worships

Fasting in Islam is not merely a command forbidding Muslims from eating and drinking, backbiting and aspersing, quarreling and cursing; it also encourages Muslims in a truly positive vein to learn to live a virtuous life and perform virtuous deeds. Ramadan is, therefore, the most suitable time for engaging oneself in good deeds, such as prayers and recitation of the Qur’an remembrance and glorification of Allah, and sympathizing with and helping the needy and the poor.  The Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, has said: “If a person tries to win Allah’s pleasure with a virtuous deed in it (Ramadan), his deed will be considered equal to an obligatory deed (Fard) performed in days other Ramadan.  And if person performs an obligatory deed (Fard) in this month, his deed will be equal to seventy such obligatory deeds performed in days other than Ramadan. This is the month of patience and the reward of patience is paradise.  This is the month of sympathy”. 

Ifthar for others

Zaid bin Khalid Al Juhani (R) reports the Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, as saying : “He who feeds a fasting person at the time of breakfast will get a reward equal to that the fasting person, and the reward of the person fasting will not be reduced”. 

Also, Allah has blessed the Muslim community throughout the world with an eagerness and enthusiasm to observe the practice of Twenty Rak’aths offering special Ramadan prayers at night called Tharaweeh.  Scholars agree to it that the Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, offered twenty Rak’aths of Tharaweeh.  He discontinued performing it after three days lest it should be made obligatory on Muslims and be tiring for them. 

All these points have made Ramadan a festival of worship, a season of recitation of the Qur’an, and an occasion of exultation and rejoice for the pious and the virtuous. In this month, Muslims distinctly exhibit a remarkably increased attachment to religion, love for Allah, and eagerness to compete with one another in performing good deeds. 

Seclusion (I’thikaf)

Seclusion in the Masjid (I’thikaf) in Ramadan in its last ten days is a deed bearing great rewards. It is a Prophetic tradition very dear to Muslims and a deed safeguarding for them the benefits of Ramadan and accomplishment of its objective. During I’thikaf, Muslims engage themselves in good deeds, such as prayers, recitation of the Qur’an, remembrance of Allah, offering repentance, and invoking Salath upon the Prophet(PBH). The Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be on him, observed I’thikaf regularly every year, and afterward the Muslims throughout the world have very sincerely adhered to this practice. I’thikaf, therefore, has become a feature of Ramadan and gained the status of a Continued Prophetic Tradition (Sunnath Muthawathir).  It is related by A’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, that “the Prophet of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) used to observe I’thikaf in every Ramadan in its last ten days until he departed from the world”. It is related on the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that “The Prophet of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, used to observe I’thikaf every Ramadan in its last ten days.  He observed I’thikaf for twenty days in the year in which he passed away” (Bukhari).